CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. Results of the Questionnaire

3. Appendices
A. Question Four - Other - Where else do you skate/roller blade
BMX? 13
B. Question Five - Which is your favourite site? 14
C. Question Eleven 16

1. INTRODUCTION

This piece of research has been commissioned by Simon Ogden
(Development, Environment and Leisure), Pat Doherty (Development ,
Environment and Leisure), and Sue Hunter (Words and Pictures).
We were asked to put together a questionnaire, to be given out at a public
meeting of skate boarders, roller bladers and BMXers. One hundred and
eighty questionnaires were handed out at the meeting and eighty three
questionnaires were completed - a high response rate of forty six percent.
The aims of the research were to:

· gain a profile (i.e. age, sex) of skaters, roller bladers and BMXers

· find out where they undertake their chosen activity and how often

· find out what are their favourite sites and why

· get their views on a proposal to build a small free outdoor skate area on Devonshire Green

This piece of research has been produced in accordance with the Market Research Society's Code of Conduct. This includes:

· information collected will not be used to directly create sales

· names and addresses will not be given to outside bodies

2. RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Which of the following do you do in the city
(respondents were able to tick as many boxes as required)

skate boarding 52%
roller blading 27%
BMX-ing 21 %

2. How often do you do this activity?
(if you ticked more than one box for question 1, answer for the activity that you do most often)

3 or more times per week 66%
twice a week 18 %
once a week 11 %
less than five times a year3%
once a month 1 %
5 to 10 times a year 1%
2 or 3 times a month Nil

Most participants undertake their chosen activity on a regular basis - i.e. once a week or more.
This information can be broken down further:

74% of skateboarders participate in their sport three or more times a week
88% of skateboarders participate in their sport twice a week or more
70% of rollerbladers participate in their sport three or more times a week
87% of rollerbladers participate in their sport twice a week or more
44% of BMXers participate in their sport three or more times a week
72% of BMXers participate in their sport twice a week or more

3. How long ago did you start doing this sport?

Two years or more 30%
Between a year and eighteen months 23%
Less than six months ago 18 %
Between six months and a year 15%
Between eighteen months and two years 14%

Therefore:

· the majority of respondents (37%) started doing their sport between one and two years ago
· 33% of respondents started doing their sport a year ago or less
· 30% of respondents started doing their sport two years ago or over

4. Where in the city centre do you skateboard/roller blade /BMX?
(tick as many boxes as required)

Tudor Square (in front of the Crucible) 88%
In front of the new Town Hall 77%
Barkers Pool 45%
On the Moor 39%
Other 35%
Fargate 30%
Devonshire Green 20%
No reply 1 %

The major responses for Other were:

Safeway 10 people
Novotel 4 people
Hallam 3 people
Ponds Forge 3 people
Skate parks 2 people
For a full list of responses to Other see Appendix A.

The results can be broken down further:

The top three places for Skateboarders are:
Tudor Square 41 people
In front of the new Town Hall 36 people
Barkers Pool 27 people

The top three places for Rollerbladers are:
Tudor Square 18 people
In front of the new Town Hall 17 people
On the Moor 5 people

The top three places for BMXers are:
Tudor Square 15 people
In front of the new Town Hall 12 people
On the Moor 9 people

Therefore:

· the majority of respondents (37%) started doing their sport between one and two years ago
· 33% of respondents started doing their sport a year ago or less
· 30% of respondents started doing their sport two years ago or over

4. Where in the city centre do you skateboard/roller blade / BMX? (tick as many boxes as required)

Tudor Square (in front of the Crucible) 88%
In front of the new Town Hall 77%
Barkers Pool 45%
On the Moor 39%
Other 35%
Fargate 30%
Devonshire Green 20%
No reply 1 %

The major responses for Other were:

Safeway 10 people
Novotel 4 people
Hallam 3 people
Ponds Forge 3 people
Skate parks 2 people

For a full list of responses to Other see Appendix A.

The results can be broken down further:
The top three places for Skateboarders are:
Tudor Square 41 people
In front of the new Town Hall 36 people
Barkers Pool 27 people

The top three places for Rollerbladers are:
Tudor Square 18 people
In front of the new Town Hall 17 people
On the Moor 5 people
The top three places for BMXers are:
Tudor Square 15 people
In front of the new Town Hall 12 people
On the Moor 9 people

5. Which is your favourite site?

The most popular sites were:

Tudor Square (in front of Crucible) 36 people
Town Hall 12 people
Safeway 7 people
Barkers Pool 3 people

For a full list see Appendix B.

Skateboarders top three favourite places are:
Tudor Square (in front of Crucible) 17 people
Safeway 4 people
Barkers Pool 3 people
Town Hall 3 people

Rollerbladers top three favourite places are:
Tudor Square (in front of Crucible) 13 people
Town Hall 6 people
Safeway 3 people

BMXers top three favourite places are:
Tudor Square 5 people
Town Hall 3 people
Bolehills dirt track 2 people

6. Why is it your favourite site?

The following is a full listing of responses:
Because it's a long and fast ride
It's the best
Curbs/blocks/steps
Lots of curbs, space
Lots of grinding stuff and boxes to alley
It's the best. Big grinding stuff
It's open and you can do tricks and grinds, not many people go there
Most stuff
'Cos of its many ramps and cool stuff
Flatish, smooth very important
Lots of places to grind etc.
I only skate on my day off, so I go somewhere which is fun and I'm guaranteed a place that is dry
It is catered for very well for the activities, and is indoors
Large area and caters for rollerblades, bikes, snakeboards/skateboards
Good dirt jumps
Big jumps, near house
Depends what l want to do - variety
Blocks for a good grinding session
Space, blocks
Blocks, good place to grind, plenty of space
Because there are good curbs, steps
Great places to grind and jump
Smooth and good block and place to eat very near (Burger King etc.)
Blocks and kerbs. Sainsburys is close and has an underground car park (dry all year)
Big, safe, lots of room for hockey
Safe, flat, large enough for roller hockey
Because it is open and has a large area to skate
Because it's good
The Block
Block and lots of space
It's good
Because you don't get chucked off
Steps, blocks, curbs, loads of stuff basically
It's where we go
Undercover, smooth surface
Open and lots of steps and ledges
Smooth, nice surface
Because there is a lot of blocks to grind on
Because there are a lot of blocks to grind on
Because there are a lot of places to grind on
Because the blocks are lovely and nice to grind
There are some nice steps and benches
Blocks, stairs/gap
Because of the block
it's good
It has a good block
Because it has what we need to skate
Because of wax blocks
Quite mellow atmosphere, no passers by to get in the way
Walking man is good
Loads of ledges to grind
Jumps, no hassle
I like to see the crowds leaving the theatre - I'm a poser
It's near the shops
Big grinds
!t has no little stones on it
Everyone else goes there
Because it's flat, smooth and where it is at
It's my special place - no one rides there but me
Steps and blocks, fewer pedestrians
Blocks for grinding are all right
Loads of steps
Lots of other kids
Near to my house, nice area round back, not many other skaters
Steps and blocks
Big area, the only half decent block
Jumping rules
Out of rain, steps
Why not?
Steps
Various skills
Lots to skate
It's outdoors, quite a good surface and are lots of blocks of all different sizes
Because it is smooth and there are steps to do tricks over
Because this is a purpose built skate park
Warm, safe, dry (never wet), bankings

7. How do you usually travel to the city centre to do your sport?
(tick one box only)

bus 43%
walk/skate 26%
other 22%
supertram 4%
car 4%
no reply 1 %

The majority of respondents that ticked `other' cycled!

8. How long does this journey usually take?

between 11 minutes and 30 minutes 60%
less than 10 minutes 24%
over half an hour 14%
no reply 2%

9. There are plans to build a small free outdoor skate area at the bottom of Devonshire Green. How often would you use it?

3 or more times per week 45%
twice a week 29%
once a week 17%
once a month 4%
no reply 2%
2 or 3 times a month 1 %
5 to 10 times a year 1 %
never 1 %
less than five times a year Nil

Therefore the vast majority of respondents (75%) state that they will use it on a regular basis i.e. once a week or more.

The results can be broken down further:
· 60% of skateboarders said that they would use the new site three or more times a week
· 86% of skateboarders said that they would use the new site twice a week or more
· 26% of rollerbladers said that they would use the new site three or more times a week
· 61 % of rollerbladers said that they would use the new site twice a week or more
· 28% of BMXers said that they would use the new site three or more times a week
· 56% of BMXers said that they would use the new site twice a week or more

10. What type of surface would you prefer? (tick one box only)

concrete 55%
wood/metal 28%
tarmac 10%
no reply 7%

Skateboarders surface preferences are:
concrete 28 people
wood/metal 8 people
tarmac 6 people

Rollerbladers surface preferences are:
wood/metal 13 people
concrete 5 people
tarmac 1 person

BMXers surface preferences are:
concrete 13 people
wood/metal 3 people
tarmac 1 person

11. Rank in order of importance
(using the numbers 1 to 6) the features that you would like to see
(1 most like to see, 6 least like to see)
(Answers are shown in percentages. No replies are not shown for this answer)

A detailed breakdown of responses is given in Appendix C.

· The most popular (rated 1 by the majority of respondents) is 1 /4 pipe and street ramps
· The least popular (rated 6 by the majority of respondents) is 1/2 pipe to vert

Looking at the range 1 to 3 the most popular features are:

· 1 /4 pipe and street ramps
· Blocks and steps
· 1/2 pipe to mini
· Flat banks

12. Are there any other features that you would like to see?

The full responses were:

A very wide halfpipe graduating from mini to midi to full size vertical
Can't think of any
Low rails/low curbs
Fun box, lower rails
Fun box, lower rails
Funbox
Not that high grind bars
A bowl
Flatland area
Bowls
Just don't put too many obstacles in there
Cafe - first aid area for learners
Dirt jumps and wall rides, drop off's
Wall rides
Wall rides, drop off's
Just don't cram it too tight, space more important than quantity
Flat ground to practice ollieing and so no one is pushed out
No
Fly off - jump ramp
Fun box
Easy access to phone - 999, areas to sit and watch
Fun box
A bowl and a fun box
Pyramid ramp, fun box, kick out
A bowl
Hips, pyramids
Steps with blocks
Humps and ditches
A bowl (mini)
Bowl (mini), hip
Death box, ramps
Fun box, rails
Good variety of unusual obstacles which are regularly improved and maintained
Wallride jumps for BMX
Jumpbox at least 5 ft. high, nice and wide
Dirt jumps, wall ride, bowls
Nope! (OK, maybe a Wallride or even a dirt jump)
Transition to wall ride, trails, full pipe!
A wall ride and a dirt jump
Wall rides and jumps
Smooth flat area
A foam pit with jump, a wall ride and a decent sound system
Big wall ride, volcanoes, bowls, foam pit
Dirt jumps, midi 1/2 pipe, wall ride (a big one)
Wall ride
Curved quarter pipes - stairs
Wall ride, flatland, bowls
Fun boxes, small bars
Wall ride, more jumps
Wall ride, foam pit, dirt jumps, midi ramp
Wall ride, dirt jumps, trails
Fun boxes/driveways
Perhaps a bowl and somewhere to get food and drink (i.e. cafe)
Woli bar

13. Are there any other City centre sites that you would prefer to be developed for skateboard/roller blade/BMX?

The full responses were:
Anywhere in Sheffield will be OK for me
No
Indoor centre
None
A covered area, larger old factory unit like Wakefield
Near High Storrs
I can't think of any on the spur of the moment, but there probably are
No l think this would be a perfect site for a small skatepark
None just Sheffield
I think Devonshire Green is a good choice
Somewhere bigger hopefully
Norton airfield (old aircraft hangers)
Anything that is indoor and large
Indoor warehouse
Warehouses that are empty, disused car parks
Just the centre
Somewhere in the middle
Old warehouses
Tudor Square
All of Devonshire Green
Top of Devonshire Green
Inside Debenhams
Top of Devonshire Green
My dad's front drive
We want smooth, flat large areas for BMX
Top of Devonshire Green
Millennium area (peace gardens/new Town Hall area)
The rest of Devonshire Green
Town Hall area
No - Devonshire Green is perfect
Arundel Gate
Not in my opinion
Top bit of Devonshire Green
Top of Devonshire Green dig the dirt
No

14. Do you use an indoor skating centre?

yes 66%
no 32%
no reply 2%

The responses can be broken down further:

· 65% of skateboarders said they use an indoor skating centre
· 61 % of rollerbladers said they use an indoor skating centre
· 78% of BMXers said they use an indoor skating centre

15. How old are you?

0 -10 1 %
11-14 23%
15 -18 40%
19 -22 19%
23 -35 14%
36-40 1%
over 41 1 %
no reply 1 %

16. Are you?

male 89%
female 8%
no reply 3%

17. Are you?

at school 52%
at college/university 23%
employed 13%
unemployed 9%
other
no reply 1 %

APPENDIX A. QUESTION FOUR - OTHER - WHERE ELSE DO YOU SKATE/ ROLLER BLADE/BMX?

On any smooth road
Safeway - Ecclesall Road
Safeway
Safeway
Safeway
Safeway
Safeway
The House
All over
Anywhere
Skate parks
Skate parks
Bolehills dirt track
Novotel and Hallam
Hallam and Novotel
Novotel and Hallam
Sainsburys / Netto - Woodseats
Safeway car park
Safeway car park
Safeway, Ecclesall Road
Ponds Forge
Transport building
Wickes, Ponds Forge
My dad's front drive
The bump (Midland bank)
Safeway
King Edward's, Somerfield, Totley Poly
Hump (Midland Bank)
Novatel / Ponds Forge

APPENDIX B.
QUESTION FIVE - WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE SITE?

From High Storrs to bottom of Ecclesall Road
None in particular
Wakefield
Tudor Square
Safeway
Safeway
Tudor Square
Safeway
Crucible
The House
Tudor Square
Town Hall
Derby, Wakefield. (Basically indoors)
None particularly other than Wakefield
It depends what I want to skate
Tudor Square
Bolehills dirt track
Bolehills dirt track (Crookes)
Varies
Tudor Square
Crucible
Crucible
Town Hall
Tudor Square/Town Hall
Fargate
crucible/Sainsburys
Safeway
Safeway car park
Crucible
Crucible
Crucible
Tudor Square
Crucible
Crucible
Tudor Square
Safeway
Town Hall
Town Hall
Anywhere, places get boring
Town Hall
Crucible
Crucible
Crucible
Tudor Square
Barkers Pool
Tudor Square
Tudor Square
Crucible
Crucible
Crucible
Tudor Square
Town Hall
Safeway, Ecclesall Road
Town Hall
Tudor Square
BMX track
Tudor Square
Fargate
Tram platforms
The run up to the garage
Crucible
The bump
Wouldn't you like to know?
Town Hall
Tudor Square
Town Hall
Tudor Square
Somerfield's
Tudor Square
Tudor Square
BMX track
Town Hall
They are all right
Barkers Pool
Barkers Pool
Tudor Square
Tudor Square
Town Hall
Re-hab skate park Wakefield
Novatel

APPENDIX C
QUESTION ELEVEN

1/2 PIPE TO VERT

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
1/2 PIPE TO VERT
1 2 3 4 5 6	6 7.2% 8 9.6% 5 6.0% 5 6% 7 8.4% 32 38.6%

1/2 PIPE MINI

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
1/2 PIPE MINI
1 2 3 4 5 6	10 12.0% 13 15.7% 15 18.1% 8 9.6% 16 19.3% 1 1.2%

1/4 PIPE AND STRETCH RAMPS

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
1/4 PIPE AND STRETCH RAMPS
1 2 3 4 5 6	20 24.1% 8 9.6% 17 20.5% 11 13.3% 5 6% 2 2.4%

FLAT BANKS

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
FLAT BANKS
1 2 3 4 5 6	8 9.6% 15 18.1% 6 7.2% 19 22.9% 10 12.0% 5 6.0%

BLOCKS AND STEPS

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
BLOCKS AND STEPS
1 2 3 4 5 6	15 18.1% 16 19.3% 9 10.8% 9 10.8% 8 9.6% 6 7.2%

HANDRAILS

ABSOLUTE ANALYSIS % RESPONDENTS
BASE	83 100%
MISSING
NO REPLY	20 24.1%
HANDRAILS
1 2 3 4 5 6	4 4.8% 4 4.8% 11 13.3% 12 14.5% 17 20.5% 15 18.1%